Job title: Housing Support Officer

Reporting to: Housing Support Service Lead

Staff reporting: N/A

Tasks

  • To carry out Personal Housing Plans and Risk assessments
  • To support clients in meeting their set goals set in accordance to their Personal Housing Plans
  • To work with clients to understand their housing and support needs, as well as their ambitions, strengths and talents, with a view to increase their ability to cope and live independently
  • To provide support and advice to vulnerable people to enable them to manage their tenancies
  • To assist clients in reporting repairs
  • To maintain regular contact with clients to support them to implement their Personal Housing Plans and help people to action their support needs
  • Provide support on budgeting, maximizing income, reducing expenditure, dealing with debt, rent arrears and welfare benefits including Housing Benefit
  • Working with a range of agencies to promote health and well being, including harm reduction to reduce the impact of risky behaviours such as alcohol and/or drugs misuse
  • To sign post clients to specialist organization
  • To liaise with colleagues and other partners in event of tenancy breakdown
  • To maintain accurate Arthur records
  • To record and report safeguarding concerns in line with Caridon Foundation duties and established policies and procedures
  • To attend multi-agency meetings to promote the needs of clients or Caridon Foundation
  • To refer clients to Resettlement Housing Officer in the event of tenancy breakdown
  • To carry out regular planned visits in order to maintain the support service for tenants
  • To provide monthly statistics
  • To ensure confidentiality and data protection are observed at all times in compliance with the Data Protection Act & the General Data Protection Regulation
  • To stand in for other team members as and when required

Communications

  • Contribute to Group Newsletter
  • Collate case studies, photographs and information from the field and provide to Public Relations

Personal Specification
Experience

  • At least two year’s experience in support work or similar role
  • Demonstrable ability to develop nonjudgmental professional relationships with vulnerable clients i.e. people with mental health issues, substance misuse
  • Experience working with those who have experienced homeless
  • To be able to communicate well with clients and peers
  • Ability to work positively without direct supervision, managing own time, meeting deadlines and undertaking training
  • Ability to liaise positively with other agencies
  • A knowledge of Health & Safety legislation to include basic first aid, food hygiene and infection control

Skills and Competencies

  • Computer literate (Excel, Word, Outlook and the Internet)
  • Demonstrable ability to plan and prioritize own workload
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Ability to demonstrate initiative and work well under pressure
  • Ability to work as part of a team
  • Acts as a role model to others in the team, sharing knowledge and experience when necessary, whilst respecting and valuing the contribution other team member’s experiences can bring